Recording and portraying apparatus



Dec. 15, 1964 -r. M. BERRY RECORDING AND PORTRAYING APPARATUS OriginalFiled April 27, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 CIRCUIT M: PULSE un- AMPLIFIE IVOLTAGE-1'0"" CONVERSION cmc Inventor Theodor-e M Bervy, by Qw M HisAttorney.

Dec. 15, 1964 T. M. BERRY 3,

RECORDING AND PORTRAYING APPARATUS Original Filed April 27, 1951 2Sheets-Sheet 2 NUMBER STGRING AND TRANSLATIM UNIT FigJO.

GAU5SES(B) SELF DEMAGNETIZATION HAGNEHZ'ATION CURVE Fig.8.

2600 m'oo I \000 i600 mouczn x DEMAGNETIZATION ORST EDS Inventor:Theodore M. Berry by Q1 4. 5424-,

His Attorney.

United ll! if Pi,

The invention relates to recording and portraying methods and apparatus,and more particularly to methods apparatus for pictorially writing,recording, storing, "dd printing information. A principal object of theinven. on is to provide a new type of magnetic information record ingand portraying process and apparatus which overcomes many of thedifficulties inherent in conventional type recording and portrayingsystems. This application is a continuation of application No. 223,423,filed April 27, 1951, assigned to the present assignee, and nowabandoned.

One problem of long standing in the field of recording and portrayingapparatus is that of producing a simple recorder not of the ink-flowtype which accurately records and immediately portrays a signal suppliedto the recorder. Ink-flow type apparatus inherently requires periodicattention, and it is quite dimcult to regulate the rate of inkflow sothat clear delineation of all types of signals is produced. Optical-typerecorders employing light as the recording medium, normally necessitatesubsequent dark room developing of the film record. Other special typesof recorders, such as recorders known as spark recorder which employ anelectric current impulse to mark an electro-sensitive material, allusually require specially treated recording materials or complicateddeveloping processes.

Accordingly, another object of the invention is to provide anon-ink-ilow recording and portraying apparatus which employs easilyavailable materials and single, open and immediate developing process.

Another problem is that or" providing apparatus capable of recording andportraying information at very high speed. Apparatus for transmitting orcompiling information, such as those employing electric currents orelectromagnetic or compressional waves, have now been perfected to anextent such that virtually thousands of items of information can be madeavailable during a very short interval of time, such as a fraction of asecond. Apparatus presently devised for the purpose of recording andportraying such transmitted or compiled information is not, however,adapted to such high speed operation. As a consequence, high speedinformation transmitting or con"- piling apparatus such as high speedtelenieters or high speed computers often must stand idle untilinformarion which they have quickly made available is eventuall,transformed into a usable recorded or portrayed form. For example, thehighest speed mechanical printers now generally available can print inthe neighborhood of three lines of characters per second. ll lodern di3i computers, however, can supply information at a much higher rate ofspeed such that printers capable of printing in the neighborhood ofseveral hundred lines second are sorely needed for use in conjunctionwith such digital computers.

Accordingly, an additional object of the inventionis to provide a newmethod and apparatus for record g and portraying information which isamenable to ope n at a much higher rate ofspeed than is now generallyobtainable.

lnfulfillme'nt of'this latter object, one specific object of theinvention is to provide new methods and apparatus for high speedproduction of. magnetic images of pictorially portrayable information;and another specific object of uses hastens the invention is to providea recording and portraying apparatus capable of printing as high asseveral hundred lines of information per second.

As used in this specification, the term magnetic image means localizedmagnetic fields produced in a material of high magnetic retentivity, thelocalized fields having an invisible configuration or flux patternwithin the magnetic material corresponding to the visible configurationof subject matter or information ultimately desired to be portrayed orrecorded.

Still another feature, highly to be desired but usually lacking inrecording apparatus, is an ability to store the recorded information sothat many copies of the originally recorded information may be made.

A further object of the invention, therefore, is to pro vide anon-optical and non-ink flow recording apparatus in which the receivedinformation is recorded in a form that enables the direct and immediateproduction of innumerable copies.

A still further object of the invention is to provide new methods andapparatus for fulfilling many and widely differing information recordingand portraying functions such as exemplified by graphic recorders andfacsimile printers, as well as type-setting and character printingequipment.

In general, the invention comprises the formation of a magnetic image inthe form of localized magnetic fields in a high retentivity magneticmaterial, the configuration of the invisible localized fields or fluxpatterns being a pictorial representation of the object or informationdesired ultimately to be transformed into a visible or otherwise usableform. The magnetic image is developed by bringing minute magneticparticles into the magnetic attracting influence of the materialcontaining the impressed magnetic image wit tie result that theparticles adhere to the material in the form and outline of the image.The particles magnetically retained by the image may then be utilized toproduce printed records.

The novel features which are believed to be characten istic of theinvention are set forth with particularly in the appended claims. Theinvention itself, however, together with further objects and advantagesthereof can best be understood by reference to the following descriptiontaken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which FIG. 1 is aperspective view of a simple graphic recorder embodying the invention;Fi 2 is an enlarged view of an end pontion of a magnetizing memberemployed with apparatus of PEG. 1 and illustrating a magnetic fieldconfiguration produced thereby; FIG. 3 is a perspective diagrammaticview of a graphic recorder cmbodying the invention and adapted to highspeed recording and pictorial portrayal of an electric signal; PEG. 4 isa similar view of a facsimile printer embodying the invention; FIG. 5 isan enlargedsectional view of a magnetized portion of a ferromagneticmember employed in the apparatus of FIG. 4; FIG. 6 is a sectional viewof a magnetic field producing printing means employed in the apparatusof FIG. 4; FIG. 7 is a perspective diagrammatic view of a high speedcharacter printing apparatus embodying the invention; FIG. 8 is anenlarged perspective view of a character plug employed in the apparatusof FIG. 7; FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic perspective .view of a modificationof the character printing apparatus of FIG. 7 including certainrefinements thereof;

and FIG. '10 illustrates a typical magnetizationcurve of theferromagnetic image retaining member employed in In the drawings, 7similar elements are designated by thelsame reference numeral, whilemodifications of similar elements generally apparatus embodying theinvention.

are designated by the same reference numeral followed by adistinguishing letter. i,

Referring nowto FIG. I, the invention is shown em to galvanometer 16.

bodied in a simple graphic recorder Jill comprising, in general, arevolving smooth surface ferromagnetic cylinder 11 preferably of highmagnetic retentivity upon which a magnetic image is impressed by asuitable magnetizing member 14, a magnetic image developing material 18arranged to be attracted by this impressed magnetic image into contactwith ferromagnetic cylinder 11, and means for bringing a web 23 of printreceiving material into printing relation with the image developingmaterial adhering to the magnetic image containing surface offerromagnetic member ll.

The word ferromagnetic is herein employed to define a substance whosemagnetic permeability is considerably above that of air and varies atdifferent values of flux density. Ferromagnetic materials have the verymarked magnetic effects exhibited, for example, by iron, nickel andcobalt. The expression magnetic retentivity herein employed defines theability of a magnetic material to retain its magnetization once it ismagnetized. More technically, ferromagnetic materials have high magneticretentivity in the sense used above when the material has highcoercivity, preferably above 100 oersteds, and a high external maximumenergy product; the coercivity being the magnetic force which must beapplied in a reverse direction to a magnetized body to remove itsresidual magnetism, and the maximum energy product being the maximumproduct of the flux density and the coercive force occurring under anymagnetized condition of the material. As mentioned previously, the termmagnetic image is herein employed to define a region of localizedmagnetization in a ferromagnetic member. The word image is particularlyapt because the configuration of the magnetizing field determines theconfiguration of the resultant localized magnetization of theferromagnetic member, which magnetization may thus be appropriatelydescribed as a magnetic reproduction or image of the magnetizing field.

Referring in more detail to graphic recorder it a locally or permanentlymagnetizable ferromagnetic member, such as the cylinder 11 of highmagnetic retentivity, is carried on a suitable support, such as amagnetically permeable drum l2, and revolved at a constant speed by suchmeans as motor 13. A magnetic field producing means, which mayconveniently be in the form of a magnetizing member 14 such as apermanent magnet stylus, is arranged with the stylus tip in magnetizingrelation, such as contiguous to the surface of ferromagnetic cylinderll. Drum 12 preferably comprises a highly permeable magnetic materialsuch as soft iron in order to direct the magnetic flux from stylus 14-to penetrate completely through permanently magnetizable' cylinder ill.Means such as galvanometer In is provided for moving the stylus tip 15axially under the tension of spring loaded sleeve Ma along the surfaceof cylinder ill in accord with the amplitude of an electric si nalsupplied The movement of stylus l4- functions to delineate a locallymagnetized invisible line on the surface of ferromagnetic cylinder 11,which line comprises a type of magnetic image as indicated by dottedline 17.

The magnetic field producing means, such as represented by magnetizingmember 14 in FIG. 1, should be one that provides a high concentration ofmagnetic flux through the locally magnetizable member ll'in the shape ofthe elemental image that is to be formed by the magnetic field. if aline magnetic image is desired, magnetizing member 14 should have asharpened and tapered edge on tip 15 making substantially punctiformcontact with the surface of the locally magnetizable member'll.

. A preferred tip configuration for such a magnetic line image producingmagnetizing member i l-is shown in FIG. 2, and the resulting fluxpattern illustrated by dashed lines emanating from tip l5. Any highlyand permanently magnetizable material, such as an alloy of aluminum,

nickel, and cobalt of the type known as Alnico, is suitable for such apermanently magnetized member 14.

Maintained in close proximity or contact with the surface of cylinderill in a position to come under the magnetic attracting influence of themagnetic image 17 as cylinder 11 revolves is a magnetic image developingmaterial 18, which may conveniently comprise comminuted magneticmaterial such as pulverized iron filings or minute iron oxide particles.image developing material 18 may be kept or propelled in proximity withor in contact with the surface of cylinder ill by any suitable meanssuch as an open container 19. image developing material 13 may be eitherin a dry powder form or suspended in a fluid.

As the portion of ferromagnetic cylinder 11 containing magnetic image 17passes in contact with or in the vicinity of the comminuted magneticmaterial 18, particles of material 13 are attracted to the locallymagnetized surface of cylinder ll and arrange themselves to assume theform and outline of the magnetic image 17 impressed thereon. As therotating cylinder 11 emerges from the comminuted material 18, a visibleline of magnetic particles corresponding to the magnetic image formed bythe moving stylus i4 continues to adhere to the magnetized image on thesurface of cylinder ll, and a development of the magnetic image 17 isthus produced.

This visible line of magnetic particles adhering to the surface offerromagnetic cylinder ll may for some purposes comprise a sufficientportrayal of the information to be recorded. However, for most practicalpurposes, portrayal upon a separate portable sheet of print receivingmaterial, such as some form of paper, is to be preferred. Accordingly,in FIG. 1, there is shown means such as a supply roller 29, a take-uproller 21 and a transfer roller 22, for feeding an interposed sheet orweb 23 of print receiving material in axially extending surface contactwith the permanently magnctizable cylinder ll after it emerges from themagnetic image developing influence of comminuted magnetic material 18.

Several different contact printing techniques and apparatus may beemployed for accomplishing the actual transfer 'of the magnetic imageadhering particles to the print receiving web 23. One convenientprinting system shown in FIG. 1 utilizes a print receiving member 23comprising a web coated with a suitable size of any wellknown glutinousmaterial. Some of the magnetic particles l8 adhering to magnetic image1? stick to sized Web 23 and are pulled away from the magneticallyattracting surface of cylinder ll with the result that a record of image17 is printed upon the sized material 23. Alternatively, the cornminutedmagnetic material itself may be coated. with a suitable adhesive orcementitious material which causes some of the magnetic particles toadhere, upon contact, to a print receiving member 23 which may in thatcase simply comprise an untreated sheet of paper. The adhesive coatingemployed for the comminuted magnetic material should preferably be onethat exerts less adhesion to the polished surface of ferromagneticmember ll than to the print receiving member 23. An adhesive coatingsolution of rosin dissolved in alcohol has been found to be quitesuitable for this purpose. Other methods and apparatus for accomplishingthe actual transfer of magnetic particles to the print receiving web 23are described hereinafter in connection with other figures.

In order to enable a' continuous pictorial portrayal or printing of theincoming information, means are provided for demagnetizing or erasingthe magnetic imagesimpressed on cylinder 11 but not so great as tomagnetize cylinder 11 in an opposite direction. Since cylinder 11 iscomposed of ferromagnetic material having high coercivity, it requires astrong magnetizing force either to magnetize or to demagnetize thematerial. in FIG. 10, there is shown a typical magnetization curve forhigh coercivity ferromagnetic material. As can be seen from thiscurve,expressed in terms of magnetizing force in oersteds (H) and flux densityin gausses (B), there is an initial low permeability region fR of thecurve over which the small magnetizing forces involved have relativelylittle magnetizing effect. With magnetizing forces increasing beyond thelimits of the forces representcd by region R, the flux density risesrapidly to saturation and a permanent magnetization of cylinder 11results. After the magnetizing field is removed, the magnetized portionof cylinder ll. sets up its own field in a direction opposite to theprevionus magnetizing field. Since cylinder ill is preferably fairlythin, this cylinder field produces a partial self-demagnetization suchthat only a relatively low level of permanent magnetization along alocus represented by the line L is induced in cylinder ll.

. present invention.

Consequently, an oppositely directed demagnetizing force considerablyless than the initial magnetizing force provided by magnetizing member14 is required to return cylinder ill to a substantially unmagnetizedcondition and no appreciable magnetization of cylinder ill in anopposite direction results. A typical. induced demagnetization path forcylinder 11 is illustrated by the dashed curve of FIG. It. For completedemagnetization, a series ofmagne'ts of decreasing strength and ofaltcrnatingly opposite polarity may be arranged side by side in place ofthe single magnet 24-, in a manner well known to the magnetic recordingart.

In order to remove completely any magnetic particles which formerlyadhered to the erased magnetic image, cleaning members 25 are alsoprovided, preferably located onboth sides of bar magnet 24 although onecleaning member located between the contact printing line and magnet 24may be sufficient. Cleaning members 25 may be axially contactingbrushes,,as shown, or may be wetted cloths or vacuum cleaningsystems.

If copies of the information recorded as a magnetic image on thecylinder ll are desired, it is necessary only to remove the influence oferasing member 24, cleaning member 25 and recording stylus 14 after thedesired image has been produced. The rotating cylinder 11 will thereuponcontinue to print the information recorded on cylinder 11 with eachrevolution thereof.

- Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown an embodiment of the inventionwhereby a high frequency electric signal may be recorded and portrayed.in FIG. 3 a plurality of electromagnets arearranged in the form or" alinear array exially. extendingadjacentthe surface of a permanentlymagnetizablecylinder ll. Electromagnets 26 each have a core memberZihaving a magnetizing tip 28 arran ed in mutual linearl spacedmagnetizing prox- O v imity or contact with the surface of ferromagneticcyl,-

device and circuit such as described in US. Patent 2,291,476, "grantedOctober 8, "1541; to C; E. Kernkarnp, v whereina pluralityof laterallyspaced target anodes are selectively-energized the'displacement of anelectron beam infresponse; to the amplitude, ofa signal voltage suppliedto the deflection plates ofithe discharge device.

Another voltage level switching circuit particularly well adapted forthe purpose is disclosed in US. patent appli'-= cation Serial No;118,532, September 29, .l9-l,.by

I the tape lla.

S. E. Gamarekin and assigned to the same assignee as the In thisGamarekin application, a plurality of current supply channels controlledby separate electron discharge devices are selectively energized by avoltage responsive array of switching devices. 7

When successively spaced electromagnets 2e are energized by the voltagelevel selection circuit 36 in accord with successive amplitude levels, aplurality of magnetic images are formed on the surface of ferromagneticcylinder ill, the relative axial positions of the images reflecting thecorresponding amplitude levels of the incoming signal. Sinceferromagnetic cylinder 11 is rotating, this succession of magneticimages is spread along a time axis represented by the movement ofcylinder ll. As a consequence, a series of'dots or shortlines aretransferred to the print receiving material 23a, the axial position ofthe lines indicating the instantaneous amplitude of the incoming signalso that a conventional voltage-time curve is portrayed. It will beappreciated that by increasing the speed of rotation of cylinder 11, afaster time base is produced so that electric signals of very highfrequencies in the neighborhood of several thousand cycles per secondmay be clearing delineated.

In FIG. 3, there is also shown another arrangment for transferring to aprint receiving member the magnetic particles adhering to the impressedmagnetic image. In this case, the print receiving member is coated witha substance, such as gelatine, which becomes adhesive when wetted. A web23a of this gelatine-coated material is fed through a wetting bath 31before being passed under the transfer roll 22. After the transfer ofthe magnetic particles to the wetted adhesive coating, web 23a ispreferably passed under a drying means such as may be provided by anozzle 32 which is arranged to circulate warm air around the web. Thetransferred particles thereupon become set and the dry web 2311 may berolled and stored without each layer of the resulting rolled webadhering to an adjacent layer.

Referring now to FIG. 4, there is shown a further embodiment of theinvention illustrating its use in connection with a high speed facsimiletype recording and portraying system. In FIG. 4 the locally magnetizablemember comprises an endless ferromagnetic tape 11a instead of theferromagnetic cylinder'll of FIG. 1. Tape 11a is supported and driven byrollers 33, 33a, and 33!), one of which is driven at a constant speed bya suitable motor 34. A raised helix 35 composed of highly permeablemagnetic material carried on a magnetic or nonmagnetic drum 3% isrotated by a high speed motor 37 to have a much higher rate of surfacespeed than that of tape lla.- Helix 35 is arranged with its axisparallel to the surface ofmagnetic tape 32 and in a position to I Imakecontinuous contact or to pass in close proximity therewith along anaxial line during its rotation. Means are also provided in the facsimilesystem ofFlG. 4 for producing a magnetic field through the magnetic tape11a along the line of contact or magnetic influence ofhelix 35 with tapella.

electromagnet' 33 arranged on the opposite side of mag- :netic tape llaalong a line parallel to the line of contact of helix 35 with tape 11a.Electromagnet 38'has an elongated core member 39 of T-shapedcrosssection with the base of the T in contact with or in closeproximity to Magnetizing coils dd arewound on the arms ofthe T, asshown, and connected to. be energized in' opposition through a pairofinput conductors 5 4i and 443. The gap, if any, between helix'ES andtape {ills-is, of course, much smaller than the space between drum 2%and tapelll in order that the helix will present a much easier path formagnetic flux emanating fromcore rm embjer 39. h

f- The; desi'red magnetic image is produced by momentarily energizingelectromagnet 38'at properlytimed. inter- .2 valsfrelative totherotational.positiohofjhelix The Qneconvenient means for, producingthis magnetic field is shown in FIG. 4 as comprising an 60' circuits forproducing these timed energizing pulses may be identical with any of thewell-known systems employed for energizing rotating helix type sparkrecorders such as disclosed in Patent 2,215,806, granted to C. J. Young,September 24, 1940, or Patent 2,434,531 granted to l. A. Wilson, January13, 1948. In FIG. 4, there is diagrammatically indicated the chiefcomponents of one such typical circuit as comprising a voltage-to-timeconversion circuit, designated as block 43, synchronized to the rotationof the helix 35 by a synchronizing circuit, designated as block 44.Voltage-to-time conversion circuit 43 functions to produce a voltagepulse whose time of occurrence relative to the time that helix 35 beginsto traverse the magnetic tape 11a is dependent upon the amplitude of anincoming signal voltage. This timed voltage pulse output of thevoltage-to-time conversion circuit &3 is fed through a suitable pulseamplifier 45 and through conductors 41 and 4-2 to energize the fieldproducing magnets 40. Where a single curve is to be traced, the signalvoltage is sampled once each revolution of helix 35, and a pulse isdelivered to the electromagnets 38 at a time during that revolutionrepresenting the instantaneous amplitude of the sampled signal. Withthis mode of operation, the speed of rotation of helix 35 is, of course,much greater than the frequency of variation of the input signal. Wherea complete half-tone picture is desired to be transferred to themagnetic tape as a magnetic image thereon, the frequency of variation ofthe input signal supplied to the voltage-to-time conversion circuit ismade much higher than the speed of rotation of helix 35, and this inputsignal is sampled during each cycle of signal variation such that acomplete line of properly spaced magnetic image dots or marks areimpressed upon magnetic tape 11a during each revolution of the helix.The spacing of the image marks can be controlled by a modulation of theinput signal which, in turn, may be in conformity with a picture whichhas been scanned by electrical means, such as by television-typescanning. A more detailed description of the chief-components of theabove-described pulse energizing circuit of FIG. 4 can be found in U.S.patent application Serial No. 111,538, filed August 20, 1949, now PatentNo. 2,596,118, by A. F. Bischotl and K. L. Boring, and assigned to thesame assignee as the present invention.

One important feature of the magnetic image producing system of FIG. 4is the arrangement of the magnetic field producing means on the side ofmagnetic tape Mar that is opposite the surface desired to be magnetized.As a result of this arrangement, the magnetic lines of force passingfrom the magnetic field producing electromagnet core 39 to helix 35 tendto converge upon the helix and thus to produce a sharply defined imageon the helix contacting surface of tape file.

In order to insure that a magnetic image is produced only at theinstantaneous point of contact of the helix to tape Ila, the strength ofelectromagnet 38 with respect to the magnetizability of the tape 1.1amust be such that little or no magnetization of the tape Illa isproduced except at those points where the magnetic circuit is com pletedthrough the magnetically permeable helix 35. This can be readilyunderstood by referring again to the magnetization curve of FIG. 10. Themagnetizing force produced by electromagnet 38 in the portions of tape11a not in contact with helix 35 should fall within the low initialpermeability region R of the tape and preferably should be just at themagnetization threshold as represented by the lower knee K of the curve.Under these conditions, and especially where drum 36 is composed ofnon-magnetic material, the influence of the highly permeable helix uponthe field of electromagnet 33 produces a concentration of the magneticlines of force toward the helix and a consequent rise in flux densitythrough tape 11a resulting in magnetizationof tape lilo at the helixcontacting point.

in FIG. 4 there is also shown alternative apparatus for developing themagnetic image produced on magnetic tape Illa. An endless belt 47 ofcoarse surface material is arranged to pick up from container 19comminuted magnetic particles 18, which are preferably in dry powderform, and to carry the magnetic particles 18 alongside the magneticimage containing surface of tape 11a. A rotating agitator 48 shakes thecomminuted particles 13 loose from belt 47 and spreads or dusts theseparticles on the surface of tape 11a. Since the dusting is accomplishedagainst the force of gravity, the comminuted particles adhere to thesurface of tape 11a only in those portions of the surface thereof whichhave become magnetized. A clear and clean delineation of the magnetizedimage is thus produced.

The magnetic image thus developed may be transferred to a printreceiving material 23 in the same manner as discussed with reference toFIGS. 1 and 3. However, there is incorporated into the recorder of FIG.4 apparatus for improving the sharpness and clarity of the imagedevelopment during the printing process so that the printed portrayal isan accurate and clear reproduction of the magnetic image impressed uponthe ferromagnetic tape Ella. Both transfer roller 22a and tapesupporting roller 33a opposite to transfer roller 22a are preferablycomposed of permanently and radially magnetized material to produce amagnetic field between the rollers that extends parallel to a transversemagnetization of tape 11a such as produced by the impressed magneticimage, but is reversely polarized relative thereto. The operation, asWell as the desirability of this additional magnetic field superimposedat the point or region of printing, can best be understood by referenceto FIGS. 5 and 6.

In PEG. 5, there is shown an enlarged cross-section of tape 11a after ithas been locally magnetized by such means as a magnetic field pulsepassing from electromagnet core 39 to helix 35, and developed by dustingWith comminuted magnetic particles 13. The magnetized region, designatedby numeral 17a in effect comprises a small bar mag-net extendingtransversely through the tape and having north and south magnetic polesat the oppo site ends thereof. Because of the small length of thismagnetized region 17a resulting from the small thickness of tape 11s,the majority of the external pole-seeking magnetic lines of force 7emanate from the poles at a considerable angle from the axial line ofthe bar magnet represented by magnetized region 1701. As a consequence,the comminuted magnetic material 18 adheres to the surfaw of tape 11a inthe form of the outline of the magnetic pole and at an angle alignedwith the external lines of force, substantially as indicated in FIG. 5.When this developed image is printed by contact printing'means, aslightly fuzzy outline of the magnetic .is just as suitableand'intelligible as a complete portrayal of the entire magnetic imagearea.

However, for those applications where a sharp development of thecomplete magnetic image area is desired or necessary, the magnetic fieldproducing printing means of FIG. 4 may be used. In FIG. 6, there isshown an enlarged cross-sectional view of the magnetic field producingprinting means of FIG. 4 as the magnetic tape 11a magnetized anddeveloped in the manner illustrated in FIG. 5 is passing under theinfluence of the printing means. Tape supporting roller 33zr'is radially'rnagnetized to have a predetermined magnetic pole, indicated as north,at its circumferential surface. Transfer roller 22a is also radiallymagnetized butin an opposite direction so as to have an oppositemagnetic pole, indicated as south, at its circumferential surface. Asubstantially uniform magnetic field, designated by dashed lines offorce F, is thus established in the region of transfer of the comminutedmagnetic material 18 to the print receiving web 23. This magnetic fieldF passes through tape lla and must be in a direction that opposes t edirection of the formerly occurring external pole-seeking flux 1 of themagnetized regions lia of tape lla illustrated in FIG. 5, and isconsequently aligned with the direction of the magnetic lines of forcewithin the magnetized region 17a itself. In other words, if the tapeIlla is magnetized by the magnetic image producing means of theinvention so that the magnetized surface region of tape Illa that passesadjacent transfer roller represents a north magnetic pole and theopposite magnetized surface region represents a south pole, then thesupporting roller 33a and the transfer roller 22a, must be magneticallypolarized north and south respectively, as illustrated in FIG. 6.

However, if the polarity of the magnetized region 17a is reversed, thenthe polarity of supporting roller 33a and the transfer roller 23:: mustalso be reversed to maintain the same relative magnetic fielddirections. With the magnetic fields aligned in the manner shown in FIG.6, the magnetic flux emanating from the image developed surface ofregion 17a passes directly to the opposite pole, represented by thesurface of transfer roller 23%: in substantially the direction ofmagnetic field F, and the cornminuted magnetic particles 18 adhering tothe magnetized surface region align themselves in accordance with thisflux, as illustrated. As a consequence, the magnetic image adheringcomminuted magnetic material 18 is confined only to the surface area ofthe magnetized region 17a of tape 11a and there are no fringing effectsor fuzzy outline when the magnetic particles are transferred to theprint receiving web 23 by contact therewith under the influence ofmagnetic field F.

Although it is preferred to employ permanently and radially magnetizedferromagnetic material for both the tape supporting roller 33a and thetransfer roller 22a, a substantial improvement in the clarity of thedeveloped magnetic image printing can be achieved by merely utilizing apermanently magnetized transfer roller 22a alone. The lines of forceemanating from the image developed surface of region 17a will still passdirectly to the opposite magnetic pole represented by the surface oftransfer roller 22 a with only a slight dispersion with distance. Sincethe gap between the surface of tape file and transfer roller 22a isextremely small, of the order of the thickness of the print remiving web23, the comminuted magnetic material 18 adhering to the magnetic imageis confined to the immediate surface area of the image in su stantiallythe same manner as described above in connection withthe more elaboratemagnetic field producing means of FIG. 6. I

It will be appreciated that the strength of this mag etic fieldsuperimposed on the printing means of the invention must not be so greatas to erase or obliterate the magnetized region llia of tape ll. Thefield necessary to produce the required concentration and focusing ofthe magnetic flux across the printing gap need only have a much smallermagnetizing force as compared, for example, to the force required tomagnetize or demagnetize the tape lla.

After the printing step has been accomplished, the tape Illa of FIG. 4may then be demagnetized, if desired, by erasing magnets-d9 and locatedon opposite sides of tape 11a, which magnets are much more stronglymagnetized than rollers 33a and 2211. Two magnets 4'9 and 50 arepreferably provided in place of thesingle erasing magnet 24 of H63. 1and 3 in order to insure complete demagnetization throughout thethickness of tape "lla.

Referring now to FIG. '7, there is shown a further embodiment oftheinvention in the form of a high speed ill printer suitable for usewith modern high speed digital computers. A principal feature of thisprinter is a high speed magnetic image producing system which may appropriately be termed a high speed magnetic type-setting system. Ahollow cylinder 51 preferably non-magnetic and carrying a plurality ofcharacter plugs 52 outstanding from the circumferential surface thereofalong spaced circumferential lines is adapted to be rotated by suchmeans as motor 5?; at a relatively high speed such as several thousandrevolutions per minute. The character plugs 52, an enlarged View of oneof which is shown in FIG. 8, each comprise a highly permeable, lowcoercivity, and high resistivity magnetic body member which isterminated in a sharp edge or tip 52a having the shape of avisuallyintelligible indicium such as a particular charactor that is desied tobe printed. Character supporting cylinder 553i is arranged alongside apermanently magnetizable member such as ferromagnetic cylinder ill sothat the character-shaped ends of character plugs 52 make tangentialcontact with, or pass in close enough proximity magnetically toinfluence, the ferromagnetic cylinder 11 along an axially extendingsurface line thereof. It should be noted that the indicia on the ends ofthe character plugs 52 which are arranged in a given axially extendingrow are alike which the indicia on the ends of the character plugs ineach circumferential row are unlike.

Within hollow cylinder 5'1 are a plurality of-electromagnets 54 arran edin a linear array to register respectively with each circumferentialline of character plugs 52 as cylinder 51 rotates. By energizing anelectromagnet 54 when a character plug 52 carried by cylinder ill isradially aligned therewith, the magnetic flux produced by the energizcdelectromagnetic 54- is carried through the plug to pulses of current arepassed through the energizing coils of the various clectromagnets 5d, atappropriately selected simultaneous or sequential instants of timeduring the revolution, and the images impressed upon ferromagneticmember 11 are those of the particular characters which are radiallyaligned to the electromagnets when these electric pulses occur. In thismanner any of the many characters spaced circumferentially around thecylinder 51 that are in any one ci cumferential line may be selectedduring any given revolution of the character wheel 51, and a wholeaxially extending l ne of character images may be impressed on memberill during one revolution. Since ferromagnetic cylinder fl is normallyrotated at a much slower speed than character supporting cylinder Sl,the character images are transferred to member 11 along substantiallythe same line during each revolution of character supporting cylinderlowever, in order to insure proper spacing between each line, it may bedesirable to pulse all electromagnets during every other revolution ofthe cylinder 51.

in FIG. 7, there is shown in block diagram a timing system 1% such asmight be used in connection with dition in a number storing andtranslating unit that repre-- sents a coiriputed number. The number isconsidered to be stored in this particular electric condition of theunit" and can later be translated by various leans such as by energizingthe unit to return to a zero signal condition and by measuring thenumber of pulses or the length of time necessary to reach this zerosignal condition. The electrical circuit used in this number storing andtranslating unit 1691 normally merely comprises a plurality of Eccles-J'ordan multivibrators, connected in tandem and each operatingalternatively between two steady state conditions in response toconsecutive input signal pulses. The various combinations of thesteady-state conditions of all the multivibrators represent differentnumbers, and in a decade unit there are usually four such multivibratorswith ten different combination steady state conditions representing thedigits 0 through 9. In order to measure or utilize the numberrepresented by any given combination steady-state condition, it isnecessary only to supply input signal pulses to the unit until the zeronumber condition is reattained, at which time the unit functions toproduce an output voltage pulse. The number of signal pulses supplied orthe length of time required to produce the output voltage pulserepresents the complement of the number stored. This complementarynumber may, of course, be used for almost all electric purposes in thesame manner as the stored number itself. Since this type of numberstoring and translating circuit is well known to those skilled in-thedigital computer art and does not comprise my invention, there is shownthis conventional number storing and translating unit as block llll inorder to prevent an undue complication of the drawings. A more completeand detailed explanation of the construction and operation of suchdigital computer number storing and translating units can be found inmany recent publications. One such explanation together withillustrative circuit diagrams and a complete bibliography can be foundin chapters 3 and 4 of a book entitled High Speed Computing Devices bythe stall of Engineering Research Associates, Inc, published 1950 byMcGraw-Hill Ecol: Company.

In order to adapt the apparatus of HQ. 7 to record and portray thenumbers stored in a number storing and translating unit 101 of thistype, it is necessary only to employ an electromagnet energizing pulsingdevice 192, and a means for supplying timing and synchronizing signalsto the pulsing device EH32 and to the number storing and translatingunit 101.

The timing signals represent the relative circumferential positions ofeach axially extending line or characters 52 on cylinder 51 and may beproduced by any suitable high speed selective switching means such as bya plurality of spaced magnets 103 substantially aligned with eachaxially extending line of character plugs 52 and arranged to pass undera magnetic pick-up Hi4 as cylinder 51 rotates. These timing signals aresupplied both to trigger the multivibrators of the number storing andtranslating unit 101 and to trigger the pulsing device 192 However, boththe number storing unit Ml. and the pulsing device 162 are normallymaintained in a condition insensitive to these timing pulses. The numberstoring unit 101 is gated (i.e., rendered in a condition to be energizedby the timing pulse next occurring) by a synchronizing signal whose timeof occurrence represents a predetermined reference point on thecircumference of cylinder 51. This synchronizing signal isdiagrammatically indicated as being produced by a magnet M5, carried oncylinder 51, as it moves past a magnetic signal pick-up means res.

The pulsing device me, on the other hand, is gated (i.e., is placed in acondition to be energized by the timing pulse next occurring) by theoutput voltage pulse of the number storing unit 1G1. Rrlsing device ltlZmay, for example, be any of thewelhknown types of electronic pulseamplifiers in which a normally inoperative stage thereof is renderedoperative by a gating pulse. As explained above, the output voltagepulse of the'number storing unit 101 occurs whenever the unit lullreverts back to its zero number condition; and Lie length of timerequired to reach this output pulse producing condition depends, inturn,.upon the number of effective timing pulses required to'producethis reversion. Since the timing pulses represent consecutively spacedpoints on the circumference ofthe cylinder 51 with reference to a pointrepresented by the synchronizing pulse, and the electromagnet 54 isenergized in response to one of these timing pulses as determined by thenumber stored in the storage unit Kill, it is a simple matter to arrangethe characters 2 on cylinder 51 so that the proper number is radiallyaligned with the electromagnet when the energizing pulse arrives.

The maximum speed at which such magnetic images can be impressed uponthe permanently magnetizable member ll depends to a large extent uponthe magnetic response and recovery time of the electromagnets 54, aswell as upon other properties of the magnetic members involved, as willbe more fully discussed hereinafter. With the high permeability corematerials and the highly and permanently magnetizable materials nowgenerally available, however, sufficient magnetizing force to produce afairly sharp magnetic image has been obtained withelectric energizingpulses of less than 20 microseconds duration.

in the high speed recorder of FIG. 7, there is shown still otherapparatus for bringing the comminuted magnetic material 18 under themagnetic attracting influence ofthe magnetic image containing surface offerromagnetic member ll in order to develop the image. In FIG. 7, thecomminuted magnetic material 18 is sprayed under pressure against theimage containing surface of ferromagnetic member ll. An elongatedcontainer 55 is terminated at the top through a narrow throat 56 into awedge-shaped open mouth 57. A plurality of longitudinally spaced inletgas conduits 58 extend into container 55 to a point near the bottom ofthe container. A gas, such as air, is forced under pressure throughconduits 58 and forces comminuted magnetic particles 18 within thecontainer up through the throat 5d and into the mouth 57 in the form ofan agitated spray. Due to a cleaning action of the gas stream, thecomminuted magnetic particles are blown away from the surface ofcylinder 11 except in the region of magnetization, and by regulating thegas pressure supplied to container 55 through inlet conduits 53, thecomminuted magnetic particles can be sprayed against ferromagneticcylinder 11 with an optimum force for the sharpest and cleanestdevelopment of the magnetic image 17.

Referring now to FIG. 9, there is shown a modification of the high speedrecorder of FIG. 7 in which an endless permanently magnetizable tape11:: is substituted for the ferromagnetic cylinder 11 of FIG. 7, and amagnetic field producing means comprising a plurality of electromagnets59 are located upon the opposite side of the magnetic tape lilo fromcharacter supporting cylinder 51. Each electromagnet 59 is aligned topass a magnetizing field through tape llla to a dilferentcircumferential line of character plugs 52. With this arrangement, theconstruction of the character supporting cylinderSl is simplired to aconsiderable extent since it need not be hollow, nd there is a greaterease of access to the electromagnets 9 than to the internal pulsingelectromagnets 54- of in FIG. 9, there is also shown a further methodand apparatus for accomplishing the actual transfer of the magneticparticles 13 to a print receiving member, which method eliminates thenecessity of using any type of coating upon the print receiving memberwith the result that a simple sheet of untreated paper 2% may be used.The transfer is accomplished in this case by employing a colored liquidsuch as a printing ink in conjunction with the comminuted magneticmaterial to provide a magneticaily sensitive ink 18a. The magnetic ink18a may cornprise, for example, pulverized iron filings or iron oxidepowder suspended within any of the well known printers ink solutions. inthis embodiment of the invention, the magnetic image containing tape 11apasses in close proximity to the surface of the mixture of printing inkand comminuted magnetic material, and the magnetic material is attractedto the image and carries with it some of the ink solution. In order toaccomplish the actual transfer of the magnetic ink to the interposedsheet of paper 2312, a simple contact printing system may be used,although it is preferred to employ a magnetiofield producing printingmeans similar to that described in connection with FIG. 4. Eithertransfer roller 22a alone, or both transfer roller 22a and tapesupporting roller 33a may be radially magnetized to produce the magneticfield. The degree of magnetization of these magnetic field producingrollers, however, is much greater than that employed in the systemsillustrated in conjunction with FIG. 4. The resulting magnetic fieldmust be of sufficient intensity to have an attractive force upon themagnetic particles that is stronger than that of the magnetic image. Theimage adhering magnetic particles are then transferred together with theink carried thereby to the interposed sheet of paper. The transfer of amagnetically sensitive ink to a print receiving material under theinfluence of a magnetic field is already known in the art and varioustypes of magnetically sensitive inks have now become available.

Although the intensity of the magnetic image may be somewhat reduced bysuch magnetic field induced transfer, this appears to have noappreciable effect upon the clarity of a single printing. It will beappreciated, however, that a magnetic ink printing system normally willnot be used where the same image is to be employed for many printings,such as when many reproductions of a single magnetic image are desired.

For optimum performance, it has been found that the various componentsof the invention should be constructed from materials having certaindesired magnetic properties. When an electromagnet is employed for themagnetic field producing member, a low loss, high resistivity, and highinitial permeability core material such as ferrite should be used. Acore material comprising an alloy of nickel, iron and molybdenum knownas Monimax has also been found to be suitable. With such highresistivity, high permeability material, a concentrated magnetic fieldcan quickly be achieved at the core tip in response to an electriccurrent through the coil of the electromagnet. For some purposes, suchas in theapparatus of FEGS. 3, 4, 5, 7 and 9 where the recordation is tobe discontinuous, such as in the form of dots or dashed lines, orwherethe recordation is to be accomplished at high speed, the core materialshould also have low coercivity so as to have little magneticretcntivity. A rapid build-up and collapse of the magnetic field inaccord with an electrical pulse signal can thereby be achieved. Ifcharacter plugs such as illustrated in connection with the high speedapparatus of FIGS. 7 and 9 are employed to direct the magnetic fieldinto a desired field configuration, the magnetic properties of thesecharacter plugs should be the same as that described above in connectionwith the core material employed in the electromagnets.

The locally magnetizable member, such as the ferromagnetic cylinder ll.or the magnetic tape Illa, should have high coercivity in a directionthrough the thickness of tape so as to have high residual magnetism. ithas also been found that the locally magnetizable member shouldpreferably be fairly thin such as about .005 in thickness in order toreduce the image-spreading efiects of eddy currents and thus to enable asharplydefined magnetic image to be produced. Where the locallymagnetizable member is supported in a rigid state such as in the form ofa cylinder, any of many Well known per manently and radiallyrnagnctizable materials such as types of Alnico may be employedf Wherethe locally magnetizable member must be durable and flexible such as isadaptable to the fulfillment of many different recording and portrayingfunctions. The magnetic image can be produced at an extremely high rateof speed so that the invention is easily adapted to high speed recordingapparatus. With the modern highly permeable magnetic materials nowgenerally available, a well-defined magnetic image of any informationsuch as is normally portray able by conventional ink type apparatus canalso be portrayed by the magnetic apparatus of the invention. Asdescribed above, the invention is adaptable to both a dry powderdeveloping process as well as a liquid developing'process. The actualprinting may be effected upon specially sized print receiving members orupon untreated members in conjunction with available magnetic inks oradhesively coated magnetic particles. Moreover, the electric timingcircuits which may be employed in the invention are used conventionallywith various types of spark recorders and few, if any, special circuitsare required in order to utilize the apparatus of the invention fornuwhen used as a thin tape, an alloy of copper, nickel and 7 apparatusfor recording and portraying information which.

merous practical applications.

Although there is shown particular embodiments of the invention, manymodifications may be made, and the appended claims are intended to coverall such modifications as fall Within the true spirit and scope of thein ontion.

What is claimed is:

l. A magnetic image recording and portraying system comprising, aferromagnetic member of high magnetic retentivity, a plurality ofelectromagnets, each having a core member with a tip having theconfiguration of an individual discrete whole character, each coremember being arranged with the tip thereof in magnetizing relation witha region of said ferromagnetic member, means for moving saidferromagnetic member relative to said core tips, means for selectivelyenergizing said electromagnets to selectively impress magnetic images onsaid regions, and developing means including comminuted magneticmaterial arranged to bewithin the magnetic attracting influence of themagnetic images impressed on said regions as the ferromagnetic member ismoved relative to said core tips.

2. An information recording apparatus comprising, a permanentlymagnetizable medium supported for movement along a predetermined path, amagnetically permeable member having a predetermined configuration inproximity with a region on one side of said medium, an electromagnethaving a core member aligned to said p rmeable member on the oppositeside of said medium whereby a magnetic image of the configuration ofsaid magnetically permeable member is impressed upon the magnetizablemedium when said electromagnet is energized, means for energizing saidelectromagnet, commiunted magnetic material arranged to be within themagnetic attracting influence of the image containing surface of saidmagnetizable medium as it moves alongsaid path, and printing means fortransferring said comminuted magnetic material attracted to saidmagnetizable medium to a permanent record medium.

3. An information recording and portraying apparatus comprising, aferromagnetic member capable of localized surface magnetization, aplurality of electromagnets each having a magnetic core member with aportion thereof shaped to have the configuration of ardiscrete wholecharacter and arranged to direct a magnetic field into saidferromagnetic member to magnetize locally said ferromagnetic member inthe configuration of said discrete 1 neticmember a predetermineddistancefrom said electromagnets and arranged to come under the magneticattractmginiluence of the locally magnetized regions of saidferromagnetic member as it moves along. said path.

4. A recording and portraying apparatus comprising, a magneticallypermeable drum, a ferromagnetic locally magnetizable cylinder coveringthe circumferential surface of said drum, means for continually andcyclically rotating said drum, a plurality of spaced apartelectromagnets each having an end portion of a magnetic core thereof inmagnetizing relation with the surface or" said cylinder, said core endportions having predetermined spatial configurations forming visuallyintelligible indiciameans for selectively ener izing said electromagnetsto magnetize discrete regions of said cylinder locally in theconfigurations of said magnetic core end portions, and comminutedmagnetic particles located to be magnetically attracted into contactwith the locally magnetized regions of said cylinder as it rotates.

5. A magnetic image recording apparatus comprising, a locallymagnetizable member supported for movement along a predetermined path, aplurality of magnetically permeable members of predetermined tipconfiguration supported in the form of a circle in substantiallytangential relation with said locally magnetizable member, means forrotating said circle of permeable members at high speed, anelectromagnet arranged to be in magnetic circult with said locallymagnetizable member and successive ones of said magnetically permeablemembers during their rotation, and means timed in accord with therotation of said permeable members for momentarily energizing saidelectromagnet with spaced electric pulses occurring when saidelectromagnet is in magnetic circuit with selected ones of saidmagnetically permeable members.

6. A magnetic image recording system comprising, a permanentlymagnetizable medium supported for movement along a predetermined path, acylinder, means for rotating said cylinder at a substantially constantspeed, a plurality of magnetically permeable character plugs arrangedaround the circumference of said cylinder, said cylinder being locatedto bring each said plug in proximity with a region of one side of saidmedium during the rotation of said cylinder, an electromagnet having acore member aligned to the region of proximity of said permeablecharacter plugs Whercby said medium is magnetized in the configurationof the character plug in proximity with said region when saidelectromagnet is energized, and means for momentarily energizing saidelectromagnet at predetermined intervals corresponding to the time ofproximity of selected ones of said character plugs with said region 7. Ahigh speed recording and portraying apparatus comprising, a locallymagnetizable ferromagnetic tape, a rotatable drum with magneticallypermeable character plugs spaced around the circumferential surface ofsaid drum, means for moving said tape past said drum in close proximitywith said plugs as said drum is rotated, an electromagnet on the side ofsaid tape opposite to that of said drum, said electromagnet having acore member aligned to the region of close proximity of said permeablecharacter plugs with said ferromagnetic tape, means for momentarilyenergizing said electromagnet to produce a magnetic image of one of saidpermeable character plugs upon said tape, and image developing meansincluding minute magnetic particles and means for moving saidferromagnetic tape into magnetic attracting relation with said minutemagnetic particles after said magnetic image is impressed thereon.

8. A high speed magnetic image recording and portraying systemcomprising, a ferromagnetic tape having high coercivity, a magneticallypermeable helix supported for rotation in continuous tangential contactwith a line on said tape, an electromagnet located on the opposite sideof said tape from said helix, said electromagnet having a core member inmagnetizing relation with said tape along said helix contacting line,means for momentarily energizing said electromagnet to magnetize saidtape only at the helix contacting point on said line subsisting at theinstance of electromagnet energization, and comminuted id magneticmaterial arranged to be within the magnetic attracting influence of themagnetized surface of said magnetic tape.

9. Information recording and portraying apparatus comprising, apermanently magnetizable tape supported for movement along apredetermined path, a magnetically permeable helix supported forrotation in tangential proximity with a line on one side of said tape,an electromagnet having a core member aligned to said line on theopposite side of said tape whereby magnetization of said tape occursonly at the helix contacting point subsisting when said electromagnet isenergized, means for energizing said electromagnet, and comminutedmagnetic material arranged to be within the magnetic attractinginfluence of the magnetized point of said tape as it moves along saidpath.

10. An apparatus as recited in claim 9 further com prising, a printingmeans for transferring said comminuted magnetic material attracted tosaid tape to a permanent record medium.

' ll. A high speed recording system comprising, a record mediumsupported for movement along a predetermined path, a' cylinder, meansfor rotating said cylinder, a plurality of character image membersarranged around the circumference of said cylinder, said cylinder beinglocated to bring each of said members in proximity with a region of oneside of said medium during the rotation of said cylinder, selectivelyoperable electromagnetic energy means aligned to the region of proximityof said members on the opposite side of said medium whereby images arerecorded on said medium in the configuration of members aligned to saidelectro+ magnetic energy means when selectively energized, and means forselectively energizing said electromagnetic energy means.

12. In a high speed recording system as described in claim 11 whereinsaid means for selectively energizing said electromagnetic energy meanscomprises a first means for storing and translating electrical signalsrepresentative of a selected image to be recorded on a given region ofsaid medium, a second means for producing signals which represent theimage member proximate to said region at any given time, and a gatedpulsing means responsive to said first means and said second means forenergizing said electromagnetic energy means when the image member onsaid cylinder selected to be recorded is proximate said given region ofsaid medium.

13. A recording system adapted to record lines of character images on amedium comprising: a rotatable cylinder; a plurality of members arrangedaround the circumference of said cylinder to form a number of rowsparallel to the axis of said cylinder and a number of ringsperpendicular to said axis, each member of a given row having a portionin the configuration of a given character image and the members of agiven ring having respective portions in the configuration of differentcharacter images;

means for rotating said cylinder upon its axis; means i for moving saidmedium relative to said cylinder to cause successive regions of saidmedium to be tangentially proximate to said cylinder; a plurality ofselectively energizable electromagnetic means, each associated with adifferent ring of members and each being adapted to provide on a regionof said medium an image of the configuration of the character imagemember in its associated ring which is proximate said region of saidmedium when said electromagnetic means is energized; and means forselectively energizing said plurality of electromagnetic means.

14. In a recording system as described in claim 13 wherein said meansfor selectively energizing said plurality of electromagnetic meanscomprises a circuit for each electromagnetic means associated with acorresponding ring of character image members and including: a firstmeanstor storing and translating electrical signals representative of aselected character image to be recorded on a given region of saidmedium; a second means for producing signals which represent the row ofcharacter image members proximate to said medium at any given time; anda gated pulsing means responsive to said first means and said secondmeans for energizing said electromagnetic means associated with saidcorresponding ring of character image members when the character imagemember thereon selected to be recorded is proximate said given region ofsaid medium.

15. In a high speed apparatus for recording character images on a recordmedium, the combination comprising: a rotatable cylinder having aplurality of like character image rings, each ring containing aplurality of raised electromagnetic field transmitting members arrangedaround the circumference of said cylinder, each member having a distinctcharacter image configuration and the respective members of a given ringhaving different image configurations; means for rotating said cylinderupon its axis; means for tangentially moving a record medium relative tosaid cylinder to cause successive regions of said medium to betangentially proximate to said cylinder; a plurality of selectivelyenergizable sources of electromagnetic fields located on a line parallelto the axis of said cylinder, each source being positioned proximate acorresponding one or" said -ings; and means for selectively energizingsaid sources whereby electromagnetic field images are transmittedthrough selected transmitting members and said record medium.

16. In a high speed apparatus for recording character images on a recordmedium as described in claim 15 wherein said means for selectivelyenergizing said sources of electromagnetic fields comprises: a circuitfor each source of electromagnetic fields associated with acorresponding one of said rings and includin a first means for storingand translating electrical signals representative of a selectedcharacter image to be recorded on a given region of said medium; asecond means for producing signals which represent the character imagemember proximate to said medium at any given time; and a gated pulsingmeans responsive to said first means and said second means forenergizing said source of electromagnetic fields associated with saidcorresponding one of said rings when the character image member thereonselected to be recordediis proximate said given region of said medium.

17. In a system for recording images on a medium responsive toelectromagnetic energy and adapted to retain localized images of theelectromagnetic energy received thereon, the combination comprising: acylinder having a plurality of like character image rings, each ringhaving a plurality of electromagnetic energy transmitting members andeach member of a given ring having a distinct image configuration; meansfor rotating said cylinder relative to said medium whereby a selectedmember of said rings on said cylinder may be positioned proximate aregion of said medium; a plurality of selectively energizable sources ofelectromagnetic energy each so positioned in relation with a characterimage ring and said cylinder as to be proximate a given member of acharacter image ring on said cylinder while said given member isproximate said region of said medium, and means for selectivelyenergizing said sources of electromagnetic energy wherebyelectromagnetic energy is transmitted through selected embers proximatesaid medium to a region of said medium.

18. In a system for recording images on a medium responsive toelectromagnetic energy and adapted to retain localized images of theelectromagnetic energy received thereon as described in claim 17 whereinsaid means for selectively energizing said sources of electromagneticenergy comprises a circuit for each source of electromagnetic energyassociated with a corresponding one of said rings and including: a firstmeans for storing and translating electrical signals representative of aselected character image to be recorded on a given region of saidmedium;

a second means for producing signals which represent the character imagemember proximate to said medium at any given time; and a gated pulsingmeans responsive to said first means and said second means forenergizing said source of electromagnetic energy associated with saidcorresponding one of said rings when the character image member thereonselected to be recorded is proximate said given region of said medium.

19. in a system for recording character images on a medium, thecombination comprisin a rotatable cylinder; means for rotating saidcylinder upon its axis; a plurality of character image members arrangedaround the circumference of said cylinder to form a number of rowsparallel to said axis and a number of rings perpendicular to said axis,each member of a given row having an end portion in the configuration ofa given character image and each of a group of members of a given ringhaving an end portion in the configuration of a dilferent characterimage; means for moving said medium relative to said cylinder to causesuccessive regions of said medium to be tangentially proximate to saidcylinder; a plurality of selectively energizable electromagnets, eachone associated with a different ring of members and each being adaptedto project on a region of said medium an image of the configuration of adiscrete character image of a member in its associated ring which isproximate said region of said medium when said electromagnet isenergized, and means for selectively energizing said electromagnets.

2G. in a system as described in claim 19 wherein said means forselectively energizing said electromagnets comprises a circuit for eachelectromagnet associated with a corresponding one of said rings andincluding: a first means for storing and translating electrical signalsrepresentative of a selected character image to be recorded on a givenregion of said medium; a second means for producing signals whichrepresent the character image member proximate to said medium at anygiven time; and a gated pulsing means responsive to said first means andsaid second means for energizing said electromagnet as sociated withsaid corresponding one of said rings when the character image memberthereon selected to be recorded is proximate said given region of saidmedium.

21. A high speed recording and portraying apparatus comprising: alocally magnctizable ferromagnetic memher; a rotatable cylinder withmagnetically permeable character image members, said character imagemembersbeing arranged around the circumferential surface of saidcylinder in rows parallel to the axis of rotation of said cylinder andin circles perpendicular to said rows; means for moving saidferromagnetic member past said cylinder in close proximity with saidcharacter image members as said cylinder is rotated; a plurality ofelectromagnets, each located to be in successive magnetic circuitrelation with said magnetically permeable character image membersarranged in a dilierent one of said circles and with a region of saidferromagnetic member proximate said cylinder; means for selectivelyenergizing each of said electromagnets to produce magnetic images ofselected character image members on said region; and image developingmeans including comminuted magnetic particles and means for moving saidferromagnetic member into magnetic attracting relation with said imagedeveloping means after said magnetic images are impressed thereon.

22. A high speed magnetic image recording system comprising: a locallymagnetizable ferromagnetic member supported for movement along apredetermined path; a rotatable cylinder; means for rotating saidcylinderya plurality of magnetically permeable character image membersarranged around the circumference of said cylinder, said rotatablecylinder being located to bring each of said image members in proximitywith a region of one side of said ferromagnetic member while beingrotated; a

' selectively energizable electromagnet having a core mem ber aligned tothe region of proximity of said permeable character image members on theopposite side of said ferromagnetic member whereby said ferromagneticmember is magnetized in the configuration of the character image memberaligned to said electromagnet when said elcctromagnet is energized;means for selectively energizing said electromagnet; developing meansincluding comminuted magnetic particles arranged to be attracted to saidferromagnetic member by magnetic configurations thereon; printing meansfor transferring said comminuted magnetic particles attracted to saidferromganetic member to a print receiving medium; and demagnetizingmeans for erasing said magnetic configurations on said ferromagneticmember after the development and printing thereof.

23. In a printing apparatus, the combination of a rotatable cylinderhaving a plurality of circumferential rows of magnetizable indicia aboutits surface, the indicia of all the rows being in alignmentlongitudinally of said cylinder, the indicia in each circumferential rowbeing different and those in each longitudinal row being alike, eachindicia being shaped to produce a magnetic field external of thecylinder shaped in the form of the respective indicia when magnetized,means to pass a medium of material of high magnetic retentivitysubstantially tangentially of said cylinder, whereby any indiciaadjacent said medium when magnetized produces a magnetic impression insaid medium having the shape of the respective indicia, means to rotatesaid cylinder during movement of said medium tangentially past thecylinder, and means to magnetize said indicia in such order and timerelation to said medium that said magnetic impressions are impressed insaid medium in successive parallel lines to carry intelligence to beprinted, and means to convert said magnetic impressions into visibleprinted characters in corresponding parallel lines on a printed medium.

cylinder, the indicia in each circumferential row being different andthose in each longitudinal row being alike, each indicia being shaped toproduce a magnetic field external of the cylinder shaped in the form ofthe respective indicia when magnetized, means to pass material of highmagnetic retentivity substantially tangentially of said cylinder,whereby any indicia adjacent said material when magnetized produces amagnetic impression in said material having the shape of the respectiveindicia, means to rotate said cylinder during movement of said materialpast the cylinder to bring all of the different indicia adjacent saidmaterial, and means selectively to magnetize different of said indiciawhen adjacent said material during each rotation in accord withintelligence to be printed to produce a line of magnetic impressions insaid material, one line for each rotation of said cylinder, said linesbearing said intelligence, and means to transcribe said magneticimpressions into printed characters on a printed medium.

25. An information recording apparatus comprising a magnetizablerecording medium supported for movement along a path, a magneticallypermeable field-shaping memher having a surface configurationcorresponding to a discrete visually intelligible indicium in proximitywith a surface of said recording medium, means aligned with said memberfor momentarily establishing a magnetic field through said member andinto said recording medium, said member shaping said field in theconfiguration of its surface and said shaped field magnetizing saidmedium in the image of said configuration, comminuted magnetic materialarranged to be Within the magnetic attracting influence of said mediumas it moves along its path, and printing means for transferring saidmaterial attracted to said medium to a record member,

magnetic recording medium, means for producing a shaped magnetic fieldhaving the spatial configuration of a predetermined visuallyintelligible indicium, means for sup 'ioitin said recording medium inproximity with said magnetic field producing means to be within theeffective range of influence of its shaped magnetic field, means formoving said recording medium in said supported position relative to saidmagnetic field producing means, means generating pulse signals upon theoccurrence of discrete relative positions between said medium and saidmagnetic field producing means, and means supplying said pulse signalsto said field producing means to magnetize said medium with an internalmagnetic image in the configuration of said indicium upon the occurrenceof a signal.

27. A magnetic image recording system comprising a magnetic recordingmedium, means including a rotatable member carrying a field directingelement for producing a magnetic field having the spatial configurationof a predetermined indicium, means for supporting said recording mediumin proximity with said rotatable member to be within the range ofinfluence of the magnetic field produced by said field directingelement, means for cyclically rotating said rotatable member, meansgenerating a pulse signal upon the cyclical occurrence of a discreteposition of said element during rotation of said member, meansresponsive to said pulse signals for controlling said field directingelement to magnetize said medium with an internal magnetic image in theconfiguration of said indicium upon the occurrence of a signal, andmeans for moving said supported recording medium relative to saidrotatable member.

28. A recording system adapted to record lines of character images athigh speed on a medium comprising: a rotatable cylinder; a plurality ofmembers arranged around the circumference of said cylinder to form anumber of rows parallel to the axis of said cylinder and a number ofrings perpendicular to said axis, each member of a given row having aportion in the configuration of a given character image and the membersof a given ring having respective portions in the configuration ofdifferent character images; means for rotating said cylinder at a highsubstantially constant speed upon its axis; means for moving said mediumrelative to said cylinder to cause successive regions of said medium tobe tangentially proximate to said cylinder; a plurality of selectivelyenergizable field producing means, each associated with a difierent ringof members and each being adapted to provide on a region of said mediuman image of the configuration of a character image member in itsassociated ring which is proximate said region of said medium when saidfield producing means is energized; and means for selectively energizingsaid plurality of field producing means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS1/30 Great Britain.

OTHER REFERENCES Jones: Printing by Magnetism. Pub. 1839 in MechanicsMagazine, vol. 31, No. 385, p. 342.

WlLLlAM B. PENN, Primary Examiner,

ROBERT LElGl-IEY, DAVID KLEIN, Examiners.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No.3,161,544 December 15, 1964 Theodore M. Berry, deceased, by

Albert L. Berry, administrator It is hereby certified that error appearsin the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the saidLetters Patent should read as corrected below Column 2 line 40, for"particularly" read particularity column 5, line 53, for "exially" readaxially column 6 line 23, for "clearing" read clearly column 10, line25, for "which the indicia" read while the indicia line 33 f0r"'electromagnetic" read electromagnet column 14, lines 52 and 53, for"commiunted" read comminuted Signed and sealed this 29th day of June1965.

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER EDWARD J. BRENNER Altesting Officer Commissioner ofPatents UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No.3 ,161, 544 December 15 1964 Theodore M. Berry, deceased, by

Albert L. Berry, administrator It is hereby certified that error appearsin the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the saidLetters Patent should read as corrected below Column 2 line 40, for"particularly" read particularity column 5, line 53, for "exially" readaxially column 6., line 23, for "clearing" read I-- clearly column 10,line 25, for "which the.indicia"jread while the indicia line 33 for''electromagnetic" read electromagnet column 14, lines 52 and 53, for"commiunted" read comminuted Signed and sealed this 29th day of June1965.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD J. BRENNER Commissioner of Patents ERNEST W. SWIDER AttcstingOfficer

22. A HIGH SPEED MAGNETIC IMAGE RECORDING SYSTEM COMPRISING: A LOCALLYMAGNETIZABLE FERROMAGNETIC MEMBER SUPPORTED FOR MOVEMENT ALONG APREDETERMINED PATH; A ROTATABLE CYLINDER; MEANS FOR ROTATING SAIDCYLINDER; A PLURALITY OF MAGNETICLALY PERMEABLE CHARACTER IMAGE MEMBERSARRANGED AROUND THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF SAID CYLINDER, SAID ROTATABLECYLINDER BEING LOCATED TO BRING EACH OF SAID IMAGE MEMBERS IN PROXIMITYWITH A REGION OF ONE SIDE OF SAID FERROMAGNETIC MEMBER WHILE BEINGROTATED, A SELECTIVELY ENERGIZABLE ELECTROMAGNET HAVING A CORE MEMBERALIGNED TO THE REGION OF PROXIMITY OF SAID PERMEABLE CHARACTER IMAGEMEMBERS ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF SAID FERROMAGNETIC MEMBER WHEREBY SAIDFERROMAGNETIC MEMBER IS MAGNETIZED IN THE CONFIGURATION OF THE CHARACTERIMAGE MEMBER ALIGNED TO SAID ELECTROMAGNET WHEN SAID ELECTROMAGNET ISENERGIZED; MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY ENERGIZING SAID ELECTROMAGNET;DEVELOPING MEANS INCLUDING COMMINUTED MAGNETIC PARTICLES ARRANGED TO BEATTRACTED TO SAID FERROMAGNETIC MEMBER BY MAGNETIC CNFIGURATIONSTHEREON; PRINTING MEANS FOR TRANSFERRING SAID COMMINUTED MAGNETICPARTICLES ATTRACTED TO SAID FERROMAGNETIC MEMBER TO A PRINT RECEIVINGMEDIUM; AND DEMAGNETIZING MEANS FOR ERASING SAID MAGNETIC CONFIGURATIONSON SAID FERROMAGNETIC MEMBER AFTER THE DEVELOPMENT AND PRINTING THEREOF.